Category Archives: Reflections

I’m posting something a little different here. I wrote most of this poem after the death of a loved one a couple of years ago. I’d forgotten about the poem until I came across it recently and decided to finish it.

It’s interesting for me to see where my mind and heart was just a few short months post-death. It surprises me some, but in a good way. A little window into that time.

And while it was written for someone real, and under different circumstances than those in the fictional “Life’s Attic” (I touched on this in “Flying Time”) it reminds me just how similar death can be, whoever it is. Why we call it a loss. And that while it is that, that’s not all it is, not all is has to be.

Here’s to life!

“Together” by Elizabeth Ely

You have died.
Just now.
Or was it months ago?
Time has been so modified. Continue reading

Once again, it’s been a while since my last post. With the aim to write here more often, I’m going to talk about something from one of my little scraps of paper. You know, those scratchings of random thoughts that occur, well randomly. Not to give too much away I hope, but on this scrap is written, “Myth of Sisyphus.” And here’s me talking out loud.

Have you ever felt like you were trying too hard? That you were working too hard to try to make something happen? Force it it into being. Make it happen no matter how many stumbling blocks you come up against. You keep trying because it’s something you feel convinced that you want. Something you’re convinced is supposed to happen. It just hasn’t for some reason. A reason you peg as you simply haven’t tried hard enough. And if you keep on trying, you’ll get there, you’ll get it, whatever that elusive “it” may be. Continue reading

I thought it might be fun and festive to post a Christmas excerpt from Life’s Attic. As luck would have it, the timing feels perfect since we can join Jay and Leanne as they awake on the same day as this post, November 30th. Hope you enjoy!

“TOMORROW IS DECEMBER 1,” Leanne blurted out when they woke the next morning. Her eyes were dancing with delight.

“And today’s November 30.” Jay played dumb. He knew full well what the first day of December meant to Leanne, but he couldn’t resist hearing her describe it to him again.

“As if you don’t remember. It’s tree day!” Leanne was bubbling over with excitement. “And the official start to the Christmas season. You have go out first thing and look at absolutely a ton of trees, picking your favourite shape for the year. It could be dense and strong to hold the heavier ornaments you can’t always use. Or it could the more open and delicate kind for the Charlie Brown years. But whatever the size and type, you’ve got to smell every one. And shake them all for loose needles. And the final test? Tasting a needle or two to make sure it’s nice and piney, really Christmassy.” Leanne’s face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. And this was from only thinking about it. “The tree’s the best part. It feels like Christmas itself gets brought right inside your home, to see, smell, touch—”

It’s been a while since my last blog entry. I’d forgo the cliché of saying “how time flies” except it’s obviously too late for me to do that now. But there’s a reason clichés are clichés, they often hold a certain truth that can be universally felt. And maybe they become annoying to hear for that exact reason: “We already know it’s blatantly true without bothering to say or hear it.” Hmmm…I don’t think I want to think about how much time just flew by as I typed these non-words of wisdom…

The events of the last couple of years have been very life-changing for me, in that big-picture, how-I-see-the-world-and-what-I want-to-do-in-it-while-I’m-here sort of way. Funny how dealing with the death of loved ones, or other challenges of life, can end up making you feel more alive than ever. Continue reading

More thoughtlessly abandoned couches and old entertainment units. More fragrant flowers amid baby blades of grass. More birds chirping in that distinctly fresh and vital way. Springtime. Whether it’s the cleared-out overaccumulations of stuff, both literal and figurative, or all the sensory reminders of the universe renewing itself, spring feels … Continue reading

Life’s Attic has just been reviewed by Midwest Book Review. Yay! They review less than a third of submitted titles, so I’m very excited that they chose to review mine. Established in 1976, the Midwest Book Review publishes a number of monthly book publications specifically designed for community and academic … Continue reading

Award-winning actress Kathleen Gati has just said some very nice things about my novel, Life’s Attic. I feel truly honoured. “Just finished reading your book. WOW!!! It is truly a beautiful study of pure love, devotion, life, death and so much more. I savored every word and truly enjoyed … Continue reading

Here’s the official press release for Life’s Attic. It’s available both as a PDF file and as a Word document. Life’s Attic Press Release (10/23/2012) [pdf] [doc] Contact information is included in the press release if you would like to arrange a phone or online/email interview to discuss … Continue reading

I am very pleased to announce that Life’s Attic has now been released. Yay! Please visit the Life’s Attic page of this site for full details, including how to get an autographed copy. Gee, that sounds so immodest and weird to say, but it is a request I received from … Continue reading

I’ve just launched an updated (and completely redesigned) version of this website. I hope you enjoy the changes and that everything functions as it should. If you find any problems, please let me know either via a comment or through the new contact form that sends messages directly to me. … Continue reading